You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Just a spin round the singletrack in the local woods. In the scheme of things, nothing special at all. But after a few months of commuting being my only riding it was a breath of fresh air.
Our second daughter was born at the end of June nearly five weeks early after a tricky pregnancy. A few weeks before that my best riding mate of many years gave up MTB after a horrible injury. In fact in the last year all three ushers at my wedding have had awful accidents / health scares.
So I've not had much chance to ride offroad all summer really.
Grabbing a spare hour this afternoon and chucking it around all the local singletrack reminded me just how brilliant riding bikes in the woods really is.
There's nothing like the feeling of weaving between trees feeling like Luke Skywalker on a speeder bike.
Made all the better by all the fun bits being completely free of walkers.
Could definitely tell I've not ridden much for a while uphill and down, but it wasn't about Strava records. I've missed that buzz.
So here's your reminder to take those chances to get out and ride when you can. They might end up being more infrequent than you think.
Well said. I've been through the dad of young kids and wobbly legs phase.
We are now into the the older one metaphorically ripping my legs off wobbly legs phase!
Riding bikes is ace and as much as I like road riding I'd rather be speeder bike Luke! Flowy trails and parent legs are a brilliant combination. 🙂
There’s nothing like the feeling of weaving between trees feeling like Luke Skywalker on a speeder bike.
It's been a long time since I've made that connection, but you're spot on. It's that exactly.
Just need a camo poncho to look the part!
My son also came early (last April), I've had very little opportunity to get out on the bike since but when I have it's been just what I needed. Things aren't easy but that little bit of freedom (or even just looking forward to the next ride) makes everything that little bit easier.
I had to freewheel on almost every bit of downhill to conserve energy mostly on the way home, but it felt great to road cycle up to Milburys pub yesterday for first time since early May, just the second time this year. Missed the rural hilly lanes so much this spring/summer.
I'm just getting back into it after a few years off and loving it too 🙂 hard to always make the time for it/justify "selfish" non-family days away riding by myself but it's so good to get out and get back into it again.
What I'm finding now with more limited time is I'm only really interested in the "fun" bits (IE the descents and jumps!) so trying to prioritise ride and bike setup based around that. Ebike is almost starting to appeal now for these reasons, but they're so expensive and ugly as sin so I'll hold off for a bit.
Excellent! Think you are in my neck of the woods so to speak, Hull? If you were riding Brantingham way I may have seen you as me and a mate were out there early doors before it got too busy.
Soon be time for some night riding there.
I've had a summer of COVID, chest infection and the chaos of young kids, normally out on the bike 3 times a week but haven't touched them for about 3-4 months.
Got out at the weekend... head space reset. Amazing.
Me too. Got out on the gravel bike with the local dads and beer and a burger afterwards. Great ride, good chat and nice scenery. Great for the soul. Must get out more but small kids, work etc means less often than I’d like. Must remember a small local ride even if it’s 30 mins can be a good tonic!
Same excuses as everyone else here. Young child, ongoing illness, chest infection etc. For me the hardest thing is leaving the house.
You're right though as soon as you pick up a bit of speed in the trees it all comes flooding back.
Glad it's not just me! It gets trickier over winter too, as @cogglepin will doubtless know the mud in our neck of the woods gets pretty sticky when wet.
I was out in the afternoon from Welton at the in-laws as that's when I had a window - was busy out, but everyone was friendly and weirdly all the fun bits were completely clear, which was a nice bonus.